Jordan currency – cash withdrawal, payment and credit card

Jordan is a fascinating and diverse travel destination in the Middle East, right next to Israel, Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. You can float in the Dead Sea, explore the breathtaking rock city of Petra, cruise through the Wadi Rum Desert, or explore the street art scene in Amman. But before your round trip through Jordan, you should also familiarize yourself with some general topics, such as the currency in Jordan. We have compiled all the important information on withdrawing money, exchanging money, prices, and the best credit card for you.

You should also know:

You should also know:
Currency in Jordan
Withdrawing money in Jordan
Fees for withdrawing money
Exchanging money locally
Tipping in Jordan
The best credit card for Jordan
Prices in Jordan

Currency in Jordan

In Jordan, you pay with the Jordanian Dinar (JD). 1 € currently gives you 0.80 JD (as of July 2020). The currency consists of coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, 25, and 50 piastres, and bills of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50. The banknotes, in particular, look really nice because they’re so colorful. At the beginning of a trip, we always withdraw €100–€200 in the respective currency at the airport or in the city to have some cash on hand.

Währung Jordanien Geldscheine

But be sure to check the exchange rate before your flight so you’re not overwhelmed at the airport and don’t know how much money to withdraw. You’ll also need some small change, as you won’t necessarily be able to pay with a credit card in most smaller shops. The same applies to gas stations and establishments in remote locations.

Withdrawing Money in Jordan

It’s relatively easy to withdraw money in Jordan. You can withdraw a maximum of 500 JD per day at most ATMs. In most tourist areas where we visited, we were always able to find an ATM. It’s important, of course, to have a suitable credit card, which ideally allows you to withdraw money for free. You can usually also withdraw cash with an EC card (with the Maestro symbol) (e.g., Arab-Jordan Bank), but this could incur high fees (up to 100 JD). Oh, and by the way, banks are closed on Saturdays.

Always use the ATMs in buildings and banks, rather than on the next street corner. These ATMs are usually guarded and are often serviced. Always keep in mind, however, that depending on the bank, you may have to pay a foreign transaction fee abroad. It is therefore advisable to look for a fee-free alternative. More detailed information on this can be found below.

Fees for Withdrawing Cash

Depending on your credit card or debit card, fees may apply when withdrawing money in Jordan. It is best to call your bank beforehand and inquire about these issues. The ATM operator or retailer may also charge a fee when withdrawing cash. The fees (foreign transaction fee) are usually very high (€5 to €10) when paying or withdrawing money abroad with your regular debit card. So, check with your bank again to see if fees apply for card payments abroad. We usually paid 3.50 JD per withdrawal with our credit card (approx. €4.50).

Exchanging money locally

You can, of course, also exchange your money locally. You can find exchange offices especially at the airports and larger cities, such as Aqaba or Amman. It becomes more difficult in more remote rural areas. Be sure to exchange your money in Jordan rather than at home in Germany. Exchange offices and banks usually offer a significantly worse rate than in the country you are traveling to. The reason for this is that the currency, JD, usually has to be ordered first, which is more expensive. The exchange offices and banks charge accordingly.

You can exchange money locally for smaller amounts, but for larger amounts, you should really consider getting a credit card. You shouldn’t carry a lot of cash with you on your trip through Jordan. While the country is very safe, it’s still possible that you might lose your wallet, for example. You’d have to exchange money every few days and pay fees each time. We don’t think it’s the best solution.

Tipping in Jordan

Tipping is also a topic in Jordan. However, since locals tend to be shy and reserved, you won’t be asked for it in most cases. When you get your bill at a restaurant, a service charge of 10–12 percent is usually added. Depending on the service, you should also calculate your tip accordingly. As in many other countries, up to 10% of the total value is typical in Jordan. The gas station attendant will certainly appreciate a 0.5–1 JD tip for helping you fill up.

The best credit card for Jordan

We recommend a free credit card for your trip to Jordan. With this, you can easily withdraw cash (mostly) anywhere and even pay abroad. We’ve been using the DKB* credit card for almost 10 years now. As an active customer, we can use the card to pay abroad and withdraw money from ATMs free of charge.

However, with DKB, you must always withdraw at least €50; otherwise, fees apply for the mini cash option. Merchants or ATM operators may also charge additional fees for use. Unfortunately, DKB has no influence over this and no longer refunds this fee.

The credit card from Hanseatic Bank* is currently even better. This card is permanently fee-free and allows you to withdraw cash free of charge from ATMs worldwide. Should fees still be charged by the ATM operator, unfortunately, Hanseatic Bank has no influence over this. This usually only occurs in Thailand and the USA. Learn more about this card in our credit card comparison. In addition, we always have the N26 Mastercard* with us. This is also free and has been with us on our trips for years.

Prices in Jordan

To give you an idea of the prices in Jordan, we have listed some of them below. In general, Jordan is not the cheapest country to travel to, but the costs depend on your requirements, your budget, etc. In summary, we can say that we spent around €615 per person for the entire trip, including everything included.

Basic room: from 15 JD
Good hotel: from 40 JD
Good resort: from 60 JD
Rental car per day: from 20 JD
Hummus & Falafel: from 1 JD
Food in a restaurant: 6 – 10 JD
Gas per liter: 0.78 JD
1 bottle of water: 0.25 JD
Soft drink: 0.5 – 1 JD
Pack of waffles: 0.75 JD
Small bag of pastries from the bakery: 1.50 JD